It's ok to make an ass of yourself

Sometimes in life, you just have to laugh at yourself.  I generally make an ass out of myself on a regular basis. Laughing at myself is the only way to get through it.

Like when you try to open a door by pushing it, only to look down and see the "pull" sign.  You could get mad at the door or call yourself an idiot, but it's much healthier to just laugh at yourself for doing it and then actually pull the door open.

Or when you trip walking up the stairs (this happens to me more than I should probably admit).  You could be embarrassed or curse at the stairs for being uneven or something.  But I find that it's much easier just to laugh at myself.

Or when you accidentally dump half a bag of dog food on the floor.  Just laugh along with everyone who witnessed it and then get the dog to help you clean it up. 

The same is true when I'm working out.  Sometimes, I just really screw up a move.  I try to do a single leg deadlift and fall over (like I imagine a cow would if you went cow tipping).  Or I try to do the last rep of man makers and fall on my face while trying to do a pushup.  Or I'm in yoga class and fall out of tree pose.

Just the other day, I was doing a P90X2 video in my dad's basement and slowly rolled sideways off of a stability ball, flipping myself over in the process.

Now, I could get mad at myself for not being perfect. For not being able to perfectly execute these moves.  Some of which I've done before, and some of which I've never even heard of before.  But really, what good would that do me? If anything, it would just discourage me and make me quit my workout early.

Instead, I usually laugh at myself.  I'm sure I look like a lunatic falling over in front of the weight rack and chuckling, or rolling off of a stability ball and breaking out into a full-on laughing fit by myself.  If I'm in yoga class, I try to keep the chuckle in my head and just smirk a bit.  

I've found that people don't really like when you burst out laughing in the middle of yoga.

But who cares? It keeps it fun.  It keeps it light.  And it keeps me coming back for more in my workouts. 

Yes, I laugh at myself after a total fail.  But, I also take note.  Maybe I need to try that move again, with a little more concentration.  Maybe I need to call it a day and give my body a rest before I hurt myself.  Maybe I need to actually pay attention to the instructions on the DVD to figure out how to do a move.

Sure, fitness is serious and you could get seriously hurt if you don't pay attention, have proper form, listen to your body, etc.  But it's also supposed to be fun.  It's supposed to be something that's good for you, something that you want to do to feel good and good about yourself. 

And laughter is, after all, the best medicine.  So go ahead and try that move that seems crazy difficult.  And laugh at yourself when you fall on your face or trip over your own two feet.  But, get up and try again.  And keep at it until you don't fall on your face.  Then, you can laugh about how you used to think it was impossible. 

And you can look forward to your next gym floor laughing fit.  After all, life is really just a series of embarrassing moments.  The ability to laugh at yourself will get you a lot further than beating yourself up for your mistakes.